Exercise stepper

ABSTRACT

An exercise stepper has a bottom rack, two treadle bars, an inclined bar, a handle, a supporting rod and two oil pressure cylinders. Wherein the front ends of the two treadle bars are pivotally connected to two end spots of the front axle shaft. The treadle bars have on the front sections thereof connecting areas for connecting the two oil pressure cylinders; the rear ends of the treadle bars are extended rearwardly to form treadle pedals. The inclined bar is pivotally connected on the bottom end thereof with the rear end of the bottom rack, the front end thereof is extended frontwardly and upwardly, the upper end has a function display meter, a connecting area for the handle is provided on the upper end of the inclined bar being slip jointed with the handle. The supporting rod is horizontally extended through a neck portion of the inclined bar. The oil pressure cylinders are connected on the upper ends thereof to the supporting rod, and are connected on the lower ends thereof to the connecting areas for the oil pressure cylinders. Thereby, when a treadle pedal is trampled down, the other treadle pedal is relatively subjected to a force and is lifted, and vice versa, the exercise stepper thus is formed. The structure with the connecting areas for the oil pressure cylinders, for the handle and for the inclined bar etc. can have the components thereof collapsed onto the bottom rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to an exercise stepper, andespecially to such an exercise stepper which can be collapsed into asmall volume not occupying a too large space and suits sports equipmentsor the like.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In pursuance of the kinds of fields, sports can be divided intoindoor and outdoor sports; outdoor sports are limited by weathersituation, while indoor sports is not influenced by weather. However,the space of a normal family house is limited, it is limited unless itis an indoor specific field for sports.

[0005] Taking the usually seen indoor sports equipments—exercisesteppers as an example, a base thereof is provided with an active wheeland a damping device, the base is provided in front thereof with ahandle, and a belt is provided between the two. By a crank action of theactive wheel, the damping device is rotated; the crank is provided onthe rear end thereof with a slide wheel extended therethrough with asupporting rod, the base is provided on the two sides of a fronttransverse rod thereof with a “U” shaped connector, the “U” shapedconnector can be pivotally connected with the front end of thesupporting rod for fixing; the supporting rod is provided above the rearsection thereof with treadle pedals, the supporting rod can exactly beslip jointed with the slide wheel; thereby, when the treadle pedals aretrampled and pressed down to render the crank to rotate the active wheelthrough the slide wheel, the crank will make a circular motion followingthe active wheel, meantime, the slide wheel will slide to and fro alongthe supporting rod to change the rotating motion to a reciprocalrectilinear motion, so that the treadle pedals can simply do the up anddown treading movement.

[0006] Although the exercise stepper can get the effect of sporting,when it is not in use, it has a large volume and is unable to becollapsed, thereby it occupies a larger space; if it is required to makeit occupy a smaller space, it shall be dismantled and stacked forstorage, and can be recombined for use; however, the componentsdismantled are subjected to inability of recombining into a completeexercise stepper again by virtue that the components are not well storedor discarded by someone not knowing the requirement, this is undesiredconclusively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the above defects to be solved resided in theconventional exercise steppers, it is expected to provide an exercisestepper that can be simply collapsed after combination for storage witha smaller volume and without occupying a too large space, such anexercise stepper is suitable for use by users; and this is the motive ofstudying and development of the present invention.

[0008] The primary object of the present invention is to provide anexercise stepper, by designing the pivotal connections and slip jointsof the main components, the components can be combined into a completemachine and can be collapsed into a smaller volume without occupying atoo large space; the exercise stepper is suitable for use and storagewithin an indoor field having a limited space.

[0009] To get the above stated object, the exercise stepper of thepresent invention is comprised of a bottom rack, two treadle bars, aninclined bar, a handle, a supporting rod and two oil pressure cylinders,wherein: the bottom rack is provided with a front axle shaft, a rear barand an intermediate bar connecting to the middles of the front axleshaft and the rear bar. The front ends of the two treadle bars arepivotally connected to a right and a left spot respectively aside of themiddle of the front axle shaft, the rear ends of the treadle bars areextended rearwardly to form treadle pedals. The treadle bars can berotated up or down in relation to the front axle shaft for an angle, andare provided on the front sections thereof with connecting areas forconnecting with the two oil pressure cylinders. The inclined bar ispivotally connected on the bottom end thereof with a connecting area inthe middle on the rear bar, the front end thereof is extendedfrontwardly and upwardly, the upper end is provided with a functiondisplay meter, a connecting area for the handle is provided on the rearside on the upper end of the inclined bar. The handle is slip jointedwith the connecting area for the handle. The supporting rod ishorizontally extended through a neck portion of the inclined bar. Thetwo oil pressure cylinders are connected on the upper ends thereof tothe supporting rod, and are connected on the lower ends thereof to theconnecting areas for the two oil pressure cylinders. With the abovestated structure, when a treadle pedal is trampled down, the othertreadle pedal is relatively subjected to a force and is lifted, and viceversa, the exercise stepper thus is formed. The structure, in which thebottoms of the two oil pressure cylinders are pivotally connected withthe connecting areas for the oil pressure cylinders in front of the twotreadle bars, the handle is slip jointed with the connecting area forthe handle, and the inclined bar is pivotally connected on the bottomend thereof with the connecting area of the rear bar, can have thecomponents thereof collapsed onto the bottom rack thereof.

[0010] The present invention will be apparent in its features afterreading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof inreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0012] FIGS. 2-4 are schematic side views showing the operation ofcollapsing of the embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of the presentinvention when in completion of the operation of collapsing;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the presentinvention when in completion of the operation of collapsing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the exercise stepper of the presentinvention is comprised of a bottom rack 10, two treadle bars 11, aninclined bar 12, a handle 14, a supporting rod 15 and two oil pressurecylinders 16, wherein: the bottom rack 10 is provided with a front axleshaft 101, a rear bar 102 and an intermediate bar 103 connecting to themiddle of the front axle shaft 101 and the rear bar 102. The bottom rack10 is in the shape of “H”. The connecting area of the front axle shaft101 with the intermediate bar 103 has a protruding cushion block 104.The rear bar 102 is provided on each end thereof with a roller 105; anda connecting spot of the rear bar 102 with the intermediate bar 103forms a connecting area 106 for connecting the inclined bar 12; theinclined bar 12 extends frontwardly and upwardly. A neck portion of theinclined bar 12 allows the supporting rod 15 to horizontally extendtherethrough. The upper end of the inclined bar 12 is provided with afunction display meter 13, a connecting area 121 for connecting thehandle 14 is provided on the rear side on the upper end of the inclinedbar 12.

[0016] The front ends of the two treadle bars 11 are pivotally connectedto a right and a left spot respectively aside of the middle of the frontaxle shaft 101 which is provided on the two ends thereof each with anannular fixing member 107. The treadle bars 11 are provided on the frontsections thereof with connecting areas 111 for connecting with two oilpressure cylinders 16. The rear ends of the treadle bars 11 are extendedrearwardly to form treadle pedals 112. The connecting areas 111 forconnecting with the two oil pressure cylinders 16 are each pivotallyconnected to the corresponding bottom end of an oil pressure cylinder16, the upper ends of the treadle bars 11 are connected with thesupporting rod 15 to thereby complete assembling of the presentinvention.

[0017] When a treadle pedal 112 is trampled down by a user, the othertreadle pedal 112 is relatively subjected to a force and is lifted, andvice versa, an effect of sporting thus is formed. The rear bar 102 ofthe bottom rack 10 of the “H” shape is in the shape of an elliptic barmaking the bottom rack 10 stable, the handle 14 can be held by the user;by viewing the function display meter 13, the related sportinginformation can be known (such as the time of exercising, the amount ofcalories consumed etc.). The inclined bar 12 is a bar with irregularcurvatures, the connecting area 106 for connecting the inclined bar 12has an inclining angle to thereby be connected with the inclined bar 12in this inclining angular position, so that the modeling of the entireexercise stepper can be more beautiful, and can meet the requirement ofthe human body engineering in design. And when in moving, the two endsof the rear bar 102 of the bottom rack 10 are provided each with aroller 105, thereby, it needs only to raise the front axle shaft 101 ofthe bottom rack 10 to render the rollers 105 to contact the ground, theexercise stepper can be moved to any desired spot at will takingadvantage of rolling of the rollers 105.

[0018] When not in use, referring to FIG. 2, the connecting area 106 forconnecting the inclined bar 12 is released in the first place, then theinclined bar 12 is directly pressed down to make rotation of the upperand the lower ends of the two oil pressure cylinders 16 (as well as thesupporting rod 15 and the connecting areas 111 for connecting with theoil pressure cylinders 16 protruded from the treadle bars 11) therewith.The inclined bar 12 is continuously pressed down till the bottommost. Asshown in FIG. 3, by virtue that the inclined bar 12 is a bar withirregular curvatures, it is generally concave on the upper portion andconvex on the lower portion thereof, and the front axle shaft 101 of thebottom rack 10 is protrusively provided with the soft protruding cushionblock 104, thereby, the inclined bar 12 is not subjected to having theconcave upper portion damaged or having the lacquer on the concave upperportion peeled off by collision. The oil pressure cylinders 16 and thetwo treadle bars 11 are located between the inclined bar 12 and theintermediate bar 103 of the bottom rack 10 to largely reduce the volumeof the entire exercise stepper such as is shown in FIG. 4. And more, aconnecting area 121 of the handle 14 on the upper end of the inclinedbar 12 is further released to allow the handle 14 to rotate reverselyand lapped over the oil pressure cylinders 16, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6,in order that when the present invention is not in use, the connectingarea 106 for connecting the inclined bar 12, the connecting areas 111for connecting with the oil pressure cylinders 16 and the connectingarea 121 of the handle 14 can be collapsed for storage of the exercisestepper conveniently.

[0019] Accordingly, the structure of the present invention has thefollowing practical advantages:

[0020] 1. The rear bar of the bottom rack is in the shape of an ellipticbar, so that when in use of the present invention, it is not subjectedto sliding and provides an effect of stability for the bottom rack; therear bar further is provided with rollers, no matter the exercisestepper is stretched out or collapsed, it needs only to raise the frontaxle shaft of the bottom rack to render the rollers to contact theground, the exercise stepper can be moved conveniently.

[0021] 2. The inclined bar has irregular curvatures, this makes themodeling of the entire exercise stepper more beautiful, and tidy incollapsing without oddity.

[0022] 3. The front axle shaft of the bottom rack is protrusivelyprovided in the middle thereof with the protruding cushion block,thereby, the inclined bar is not subjected to damaging or having thelacquer thereon peeled off by collision due to an overly largepressing-down force.

[0023] 4. By collapsing of the connecting areas, the volume of theexercise stepper can be effectively reduced to not occupy a too largespace, thereby the exercise stepper is convenient for storage for asmall field.

[0024] In conclusion, according to the content disclosed above, thepresent invention can get the expected object thereof to provide apracticable exercise stepper.

[0025] The above stated is only for illustrating a preferred embodimentof the present invention and not for giving any limitation to the scopeof the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in thisart that various modifications or changes without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention shall also fall within the scope ofthe appended claims of this invention.

1. An exercise stepper comprises: a bottom rack provided with a frontaxle shaft, a rear bar and an intermediate bar connecting to the middleof said front axle shaft and the middle of said rear bar; two treadlebars, the front ends of said two treadle bars are pivotally connected toa right and a left spot respectively aside of said middle of said frontaxle shaft, the rear ends of said treadle bars are extended rearwardlyto form treadle pedals; said treadle bars are adapted to rotating up ordown in relation to said front axle shaft for an angle, and are providedon the front sections thereof with connecting areas for connecting withtwo oil pressure cylinders; an inclined bar, being pivotally connectedon the bottom end thereof with a connecting area in said middle of saidrear bar, the front end thereof is extended frontwardly and upwardly,the upper end thereof is provided with a function display meter; ahandle slip jointed with a connecting area for said handle which isconnected to the rear side on said upper end of said inclined bar; asupporting rod horizontally extended through a neck portion of saidinclined bar; and two oil pressure cylinders, connected on the upperends thereof to said supporting rod, and connected on the lower endsthereof to connecting areas for said two oil pressure cylindersrespectively; with the above stated structure, when one of said treadlepedals is trampled down, the other of said treadle pedals is relativelysubjected to a force and is lifted, and vice versa, said exercisestepper thus is formed; said structure, in which the bottoms of said twooil pressure cylinders are pivotally connected with said connectingareas for said oil pressure cylinders in front of said two treadle bars,said handle is slip jointed with said connecting area for said handle,and said inclined bar is pivotally connected on the bottom end thereofwith a connecting area of said rear bar, allows components thereofcollapsed onto said bottom rack thereof.
 2. The exercise stepper as inclaim 1, wherein said bottom rack is in the shape of “H”, said rear baris in the shape of a stable elliptic bar not subjected to sliding, thetwo ends of said elliptic rear bar are provided each with a roller. 3.The exercise stepper as in claim 1, wherein the front axle shaft of saidbottom rack has in the middle thereof a cushion block.
 4. The exercisestepper as in claim 1, wherein said front axle shaft connected with theends of said treadle bars are provided on the two ends thereof each withan annular fixing member.